Draft bars for helmet hoods



May 1, 1962 s. R. KOROLICK DRAFT BARS FOR HELMET HOODS Filed Nov. 8, 1960 INVENTOR Samuel RKoroZz'c/L ATTORNEY 3,931,673 Patented May 1, I962 3,031,673 DRAFT BAR FUR HELMET HOODS gamuel R. Koroiick, Southlboro, Mass, assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Nov. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 68,133 9 Claims. (Cl. 23) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The invention relates to hoods for protective helmets or the like which include a brim extending laterally outwardly of the head of a wearer and/or which include head suspension means such as a head band which is disposed in radially inwardly spaced relation to the helmet shell. Such helmets are uncomfortable in cold weather because cold air enters freely between the head band and the shell. Many efforts have been made to cure this objectionable feature and such efiorts include skull caps to be Worn beneath the helmet as well as hoods to cover the helmet. The former are ineffective to prevent the entry of cold air while the latter are necessarily spaced from the wearers cheek at the sides of the face opening by the brim of the helmet whereby to permit entry of air to the helmet interior. The patent to De Grazia, No. 2,870,452, is an example of an improved hood which attempts to solve the problem but that device falls short of the results achieved by the present invention.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved hood of the class de scribed.

A further obiect is to provide such an improved hood which includes anti-draft cushions which are movable from operative positions wherein they bar the entry of drafts to the helmet interior to inoperative positions wherein entry of drafts is permitted.

A further object is to provide such an improved hood which includes means for selectively blocking the entry of drafts not only in the areas between the hood and the cheeks of a wearer but also in at least the frontal portion of the space between the head band and the helmet shell.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, the structure of the several elements of the same, combinations and subcombinations of such elements with each other and/or with a helmet or the like, all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the drawing which illustrates two species of the invention as well as to the following specification wherein the invention is described and claimed.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view showing one species of the invention, the anti-draft means being shown in two inoperative positions;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, the parts being shown in the operative position;

FIGURE 3 is a view like FIGURE 2 but showing the anti-draft means in a stored inoperative position;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a second species of the invention, the parts being shown in the operative positions; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like parts in all views, and referring at first to the species of invention shown in FIGURES 1-4, It? designates generally any suitable protective helmet or the like which includes a brim 11 which is laterally spaced from the head of a wearer and a suitable head band 12 which is radially inwardly spaced from the helmet shell 10 by any suitable suspension 13 such as that disclosed in Riddell Patent No. 2,250,275.

The hood according to the species of invention of FIGURES 14 is generally indicated at 14 and comprises a helmet covering crown portion 15' and a curtain 16 depending therefrom. Curtain 16 includes front edges 17 which define the opposite sides of a front or face opening. At the front the lower ends of the edges 17 are formed to provide tabs 18, 18 which may be overlapped beneath the chin of a wearer, FIGURE 2, and there secured by any suitable separable fastener means 19. As best seen in FIGURE 3, when a helmet cover or hood such as has been described so far is secured in place air spaces 26, 2d are formed below the brim 11 outwardly of both checks of a wearer. Likewise, air so entering is free to flow over the wearers head through the space 21 between the head band 12 and shell 10, see the directional arrows in FIGURE 3.

To prevent, or at least substantially retard such flow of air, there has been provided two anti'draft cushions 22 which are of elongated configuration and which are formed of any suitable soft insulating material such as fabric covered foam rubber, kapok, fleece, down, any suitable plastic material, or any other suitable material. The cushions 22 are hingedly secured to the front edges 17 of the curtain 16 by any suitable hinge means such as substantially vertical rows of stitching. Cushions 22 include free upper ends 23 which terminate in tips or extensions 24 which extend laterally inwardly in opposite directions when the cushions are in the operative positions of FIGURES 2 and 4. As there shown, such extensions cross or overlap each other in the space 21 between the head band 12 and shell 10 so as to at least substantially fill that portion of such space 21 which overlies the face opening. Also, the hinged portion of the cushions 22 and the lower portions of the free upper ends 23 fill the air spaces 20 whereby to effectively bar the entry of drafts at all points around the face opening. Cushions 22 may also have free lower ends 25 which are preferably tapered to enhance the seal around the chin when tabs 18 are secured together.

When the cushions 2.2 are not needed, they may be swung to inoperative positions outwardly of the spaces 29, 21 as shown in full lines in FIGURE 1. Preferably, the curtain 16 in at least the region of each of the front edges 17 is formed with an inner ply 26 which is not connected to the associated front edge 17 whereby to provide a forwardly openings pocket into which the cushion 22. is received to comprise the stored inoperative position, as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 1 as well as in FIGURE 3. When so disposed, the air spaces 20, 21 are fully open and free circulation of air into the helmet 10 is permitted. At the same time, the cushions 22 may be readily swung into operative positions on short notice. In the species of FIGURES and 6, the structure is identical to that described with respect to FIGURES 1-4 except for the shape of the cushions. Here, the cushions 32 are hinged to the front edges of either the curtain 16 or the inner ply 26, preferably the latter for movement to and from the operative positions. However, these cushions 32 do not have any lateral extensions as those 24 on their free upper ends 33. Cushions 32 have tapered free lower ends 35 which function like their counterparts 25 in the first described species. Thus, the cushions 32 fill only the laterally disposed air spaces 26 and do not close that portion of the space 21 which overlies the face opening. Consequently, this species of the invention will not be as efficient as the first described species except for the closing of the spaces 20. As seen in FIGURES 5 and 6, when cushions 32 are in the operative positions, the free upper ends 33 thereof extend upwardly into the helmet and having a friction fit in the spaces 21 between the head band 12 and shell in.

While there has been shown and described what are now thought to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the same is susceptible of still other forms and expressions. Consequently, the invention is not considered as being limited to the precise structures shown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

Iclaim:

1. In combination with a protective helmet or the like having a substantially rigid brim disposed radially outwardly of a wearers head; a fabric hood comprising a helmet covering portion and a curtain depending therefrom, said curtain having two front edges defining opposite sides of a face opening, said edges crossing said brim and extending therebelow substantial distances on opposite sides thereof, said edges in at least the areas immediately below said brim being disposed laterally outwardly of a wearers checks to provide air spaces, two anti-draft cushions, means swingably mounting said cushions on said edges of said hood, and said cushions being swingable from inoperative positions outwardly of said air spaces to operative positions within the same wherein said air spaces are at least substantially closed.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said cushions include free upper ends, said free upper ends extending upwardly into said helmet when said cushions are in said operative positions.

3. In combination with a protective helmet or the like having a substantially rigid brim disposed radially outwardly of a wearers head and a head band disposed in radially inwardly spaced relation to said helmet; a fabric hood comprising a helmet covering portion and a curtain depending therefrom, said curtain having two front edges defining opposite sides of a face opening, said edges crossing said brim and extending therebelow substantial distances on opposite sides thereof, said edges in at least the areas immediately below said brim being disposed laterally outwardly of a wearers cheeks to provide air spaces, two anti-draft cushions, substantially vertical hinge means hingedly connecting said cushions to said edges of said hood, said cushions being swingable from inoperative positions outwardly of said air spaces to operative positions within the same wherein said air spaces are at least substantially closed, said cushions including free upper ends, and said free upper ends extending upwardly into'said helmet between the same and said head band when said cushions are in said operative positions.

4. In combination with a protective helmet or the like having a substantially rigid brim disposed radially outwardly of a wearers head and a head band disposed in radially inwardly spaced relation to said helmet; a fabric hood comprising a helmet covering portion and a curtain depending therefrom, said curtain having two front edges defining opposite sides of a face opening, said edges crossing said brim and extending therebelow substantial distances on opposite sides thereof, said edges in at least the areas immediately below said brim being disposed laterally outwardly of a wearers cheeks to provide air spaces, anti-draft cushions carried by said edges of said hood, said cushions being movable from inoperative positions outwardly of said air spaces to operative positions within the same wherein said air spaces are at least substantially closed, said cushions including free upper ends, and said f -ee upper ends being formed to extend into said helmet and have a friction fit between said helmet and said head band when said cushions are in said operative positions.

5. In combination with a protective helmet or the like having a substantially rigid brim disposed radially outwardly of a wearers head and a head band disposed in radially inwardly spaced relation to said helmet; a fabric hood comprising a helmet covering portion and a curtain depending therefrom, said curtain having two front edges defining opposite sides of a face opening, said edges crossing said brim and extending therebelow substantial distances on opposite sides thereof, said edges in at least the areas immediately below said brim being disposed laterally outwardly of a wearers cheeks to provide air spaces, anti-draft cushions carried by said edges of said hood, said cushions being movable from inoperative positions outwardly of said air spaces to operative positions within the same wherein said air spaces are at least substantially closed, said cushions including free upper ends, and said free upper ends extending upwardly into said helmet between the same and said head band, said upper ends including laterally inwardly directed extensions which cross between said head band and helmet when said cushions are in said operative positions, whereby said cushions, free ends and extensions thereof provide an anti-draft cushion extending substantially entirely around said face opening inwardly of said hood and helmet.

6. The combination with a protective helmet including a shell and head suspension means providing a space between the same and said shell; of a hood covering said helmet, said hood having a front opening defined by a top edge portion overlying said helmet at the front thereof and two depending side edge portions extending below said helmet laterally thereof to provide air spaces, antidraft cushions carried by said side edge portions of said hood, said cushions including upper ends having laterally inwardly directed extensions, said cushions being movable from operative positions in said air spaces and said space between said shell and suspension and inoperative positions outwardly of said shell, said extensions overlapping in said operative positions to provide an inverted U-shaped anti-draft means extending from said side portions of said hood entirely across said front opening inwardly of said shell, and said hood including means for holding said cushions closely against the face of a wearer when said cushions are in said operative positions.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein said side edge portions of said hood are formed with pockets, and said cushions being inserted in said pockets when in said inoperative positions.

8. The combination with a protective helmet orthe like having a substantially rigid brim disposed radially outwardly of a wearers head and a head band located in. radially inwardly spaced relation to said helmet; of a fabric hood comprising a helmet covering portion and a curtain depending therefrom, said curtain having two front edges defining opposite sides of a face opening, said edges in at least the areas immediately below said brim being disposed laterally outwardly of a wearers cheeks to define air spaces, two anti-draft cushions, each cushion including a portion hingedly' secured to one of said front edges on a substantially vertical axis, said cushions including free upper ends, said cushions being swingable from inoperative positions outwardly of said air spaces to operative positions Within the same, said upper ends extensions, and said extensions crossing each other heof said cushions extending between said helmet and head tween said helmet and head band when said cushions are hand when in said operative positions, said curtain being in said operative positions. formed with pockets receiving said cushions when the same are in said inoperative positions, and said curtain 5 Refeleflces Ciged in the file of this P including means for holding said cushions against a Wear- UNITED STATES AT ers cheeks.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said upper 2376345 Dalber May 1945 ends of said cushions include laterally inwardly directed 2839757 Gianola June 1958 

